Automatic low-water-level marker.



w. DALTON AUTOMATIC LOW WATER LEVEL MARKER.

APPLICATION HUD MAY 5, i914.

latvnfed May 16, 1916.

WITNESSES:

WILLgAM DALTON, on SGHENEC'IADY, new from.

AdTOMAiTlC LOW-WATEILLEVEL specification of Letters Patent. v Patented15133 16, 1916.

Application filed May 15. 1914. Serial No. 838,681.

T 0011 whom itmay concern Be it known that I, VVILLIAM DALTON, ofSchenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State of New York, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in AutomaticLo\vlVater-Le\'el Markers, of which improvement the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to low water level markers for steam boilers,particularly those operating on locomotive engines, and is designed toautomatically present an exterior indication or mark, in all variationsof position of the boiler relatively toa normal horizontal one, whichwill correspond to a predetermined safe level above the highest level ofthe crown sheet of the boiler.

lhe object of my invention is to provide means whereby the permissiblesafe low water level may be automatically and clearly indicated,regardless of variations of position of the boiler in operation,relatively to its normal horizontal position, such, for example, as areellected by the passage, of a locomotive from a level to a grade, orfrom a "horizontal portion of the track to one which is laterallyinclined by the elevation of the outer rails in a curve, or vice versa,thereby guarding against destructive exp'lbsions and loss of life, dueto the lack of a s'uflicient depth of water above the crown ofthefirebox.

Another object of the invention is to proand working inclinations of theboiler, 'in

order that the operator may feel certain as to the actual safe amount ofwater over the crown sheet, the tendency to carry an excess of waterbeing thereby avoided, and the boiler being relieved from the burden ofheating an excessive amount of feed water when working at its maximumcapacity in ascending a grade and preparatory to a sudden change in itsinclination when reaching the summit, thus enabling a greater amount ofdry steam to be furnished at a higher evaporativc efiiciency, with acorresponding material increase of economy and power.

A further object is to provide means whereby the acvluacv and properoperation of the glass gagr tube and gage cocks ordi narilv applied on lcmuotive boilers may be checked when the locomotive is under rolling orlateral swaying movement.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsection, taken on the line A A .of Fig. 2, through the rear or fireboxend of a locomotive boiler, illustratingan application of my invention;Fig. 2, a rear view, in elevation; and Fig. 3, a. plan or top View. 1

My invention is herein exemplified as applied in a large locomotiveboiler, of the semrwide firebox type, comprising, as in ordinarypractice, a firebox, l, which is closed at top by a crown sheet, 2, andis connected to a shell, 4, through which a plurality of fire tubes, 3,extends from thetube sheet, 5, to a smoke box (not shown) at the frontend of the boiler. As in all properly designed boilers of this type, theheight of the water and steam space between the crown sheet and theshell, is necessarily comparatively limited to avoid excessive externaldimensions of the boiler and afford the requisite clearance frombridges, tunnels, and vehicles on parallel tracks. In locomotivesdesigned for heavy grade or mountain service, it is of special andurgent im ortance to insure the maintenance of a su cient depth. ofwater over the crown sheet. particularly when operating at full power onheavy grades, to avoid risk of do structive explosions and resultantloss of Y life and damage to property. In ractice, it is usual to allowap'proximatey from three to four inches OYCI' the crown sheet, 2, (whichis generally inclined downwardly toward the back head of the boiler,)adjacent to the firebox tube sheet, 5, and it is clearly not within thebounds of prudence to assume that a safe allowance of water depth may beinsured in a largelocomotive boiler, having a length of as much as'fortyone feet of water surface, by the mere observation of a water glass gagelocated on the back head. 6, of the boiler, which may be sixteen feet oimore in rear of the critical point of level, which is at the highestlevel of the crown sheet where it adjoins the tube sheet, 5.

By the descriptive term critical point as herein applied, there is meanta point located a minimum safe distance above the highest point of thecrown sheet or other surface exposed to direct furnace heat, belO\vwhich point. the water level in the boiler must never. consistently withsafety, be per mitted to fall. This limitation of \varrantcd llOassumption is particularly important when the. locomotive is operatingon mountain roads in which there are continual changes in the gradesacurvatures, and wherein the rail elevations on curves cause thelocomotive td frequently sway from side to side.

To enable the operator to maintain a safe water depth over the crownsheet. my inveir tion is designed to indicate. by observation at one ormore points exterior to the boiler. a precise measure of the level ofwater atthe critical point on'the crown sheet, regardless oflongitudinal or traverre inclination of the boiler.

In the practice of my invention. I provide two small reservoirs, 7.which are supported outside the boiler. on opposi; sides thereof, abovethe level of the crown sheet. :2. and preferably adjacent to the planeof the firelui-x tube sheet, 5. The reservoirs. which are supplied witha suitabl leveling liquid. preferably mercury, are made of sufficientlength to accommodate the total rise and fall of the correspondingliquid surfaces due to the difference of level of the opposite trackrails. and the suni of the areas of their bores is substantially greaterthan the area of the bore of a tubular indicator or automaai markerglass, ll. connected to and supported on the back boiler head, (i. Forurposes of simplicity and ready comparison. the automatic marker glassis disposed parallel with and adjacent to the ordinary water glass gage,'21, and may be secured to the support or mounting thereof.

Each of the reservoirs, 7*, is connected by one of a pairof horizontallydisposed co Iluits. l2, extending on the outside of ie firebox, with theautomatic mark r glass, it, the conduits communicating ore with theother, and with the lass, through a i T fitting. 43 a leveling liquidlevel'being thercb; formed and inaintal ed in the two reservoirs and theglass The vertical distance between this leveling liquid level and thecritical point, 2', which is located preferablv at the hi best level ofthe crown iicet adjoining 51o firebox tube sheet. 5.

is a measure of the safe allowable minimum depth of water over the crownsheet, and varies in amount in boilers of difierent designs anddill'erent service requirements. It

often found desirable to attach an automatic marker glass, 41. to eachreservoir. and to locate a water gage glass, l0, adjaent to eachreservoir, thereby providing at hast three observation points, whichwould e more particularlv useful in locomotives in which the. cab islocated forward of the fir box. li e properly proportioning the-rvr-irs. an automatic marker glass and H r gage glass may be located atany other ululilc observation point. and the glasses. W and ii, adjacentto the reservoirs nia v la hnit'lcil. v

The combined area of the bores of the reservoirs. T. is greater. in apredetermined ratio. than that of the bore of 'itmarker would take placerelatively to the level ofthe critical point on the crown sheet, whenthe locomotive. in running forward, passes over the SL'nflilt of a gradeand moves on. a down grade. It is important. in practice. to insuregreater safety by increasing the allowable depth of w. ter over thecrown sheet when the locomotive boiler points down grade. in whichoperating position the water level naturally lowers over the crown sheetand rises at and toward the front or smoke box tube sheet. In order toprovide for this desirable increase, the proportioning of the relativediameters of the reservoirs and marker glass is based upon the designofthe boiler and the character of the service in which it is to beoperated. Thus. for illustration. if the combined areas of the bores ofthe reservoirs he. say, thirty times that of the bore ofthe markerglass, and the distance between the reservoirs and glass he. say,fifteen feet, a drop" of six inches in the'level of the liquid surfacein the glass would correspond with an elevation of the liquid surfacesof one-fifth of an inch, relatively to the critical point. This amountof permissible increase of water depth over the crown sheet, may, ofemirse. be changed, by variation of the ratio of the bores in accordancewith the structure and character of service of the boiler, whichcapacity of providing for "change in theallowable water depth is animportant and valuable feature of my invention.

In the erection of a locomotive, it is the usual practice, after theboiler is mounted in a level position on the locomotive frame,

to permanently, secure to the back head, 6,.

a stationary marker. 20, which corresponds with the allowable safeminimum low water level over the critical point in the crown sheet.After the locomotive is under steam, at normal working pressure andtemperaelevation of the stationary marker, after which the automaticmarker can always be checked when the boiler is in a known level ture.the reservoirs are filled with mercury, until the liquid level thereinreaches the position.

Under normal working conditions. the water surface in the ordinary gageglass '21, corresponds in elevation with the actual \\'a' ter surfacewithin the boiler. and the ilillerence in the elevation of the liquidsurfaces in the indicator. 14. and glass. ll. givv an ac curate uu-asureol' the ('Xt't-? of water level in the boiler above llnpermissibleminimum safe low water hie]. The liquid surfaces in the indicator andglass will simultaneously rise and fall in a given inclination of theboiler, the relative amount of movement depending largely upon thedesign of the boiler, and the most desirable design giving the smallestchange in the distance corresponding to the difference of level in theindicator and glass. This Feature of my invention is of value in thecon'iparison and selection of designs of boilers most suitable forrailroads having many changes in grade. A. graduated marker. combinedwith the fixed marker. and indicating percentage of grade, is useful andconvenient for determining the track grade.

The upper ends oi the reservoirs, 7. may, if desired, be connectedthrough pipes, 48, a T fitting. 46. and a pipe, l7. with the top of theautomatic marker glass. 11, and further, it is essential that saidreservoirs shall be connected. below the liquid level by a transversepipe. -19. for the purpose of causing the level, of the liquid in eitherreservoir to be maintained at the level of the critical point. Acomplete closed interconnnunicating circuit will thereby be formed,which includes the reservoirs. T. conduits, 4'2, glasses. 14, 40 and-11, and pipes, 47, 4:8 and 49. The pipes, 47 and 4b, are, in practice.omitted. with the object of simplification. The transverse )ipe. MLcauses the liquid levels to quickly correspond to lateral inclination orswaying of the boiler.

My invention is of substantial practical merit and value in theparticular of providing ready and effective means for detecting at alltimes any defect in the operation of the water level indicatorsordinarily applied to locomotive boilers, as, for example, when a watergage cock or a water glass fitting becomes clogged by sediment or scaleformation, a comparison of the relative ositions and movement ol theleveling liquit and the water level indicator reading will promptly showdefective operation of the water level indicator. In such case, themovement of the water in the gage is relatively sluggish, and inducesFalse readings, which are not in correspondence with the changinginclinations of the boiler. The latter are quickly and accuratelyindicated by the inclosed and protected leveling liquid.

:\n embodiment oi m only a single reservoir is applied, constitutes thesubject matter of a divisional application filed by nae Sept m er 21.1915. Ser. No. 51(33.

l claim as my invention and desire to secure by licttcrs Patent:

l. The combination, with a steam boiler ot a ty ng, which. is subject torolling or pitching movcnn'nts in service of a water level invention inw hich marker comprising two reservoirs, each adapted to contain aportion of a leveling liquid, said reservoirs being so proportionedrelatively to an indicator and disposed on opposite sides of the boilerin position to maintain a relatively large surface of such liquid at alevel correspomling with the level of a predetern'iined critical pointwithin the boiler, an indi-ator adapted to inclose another portion ofsuch liquid and maintain and indicate a relatively small surfacethereof, at the same level, and a conduit connecting said reservoirs andindicator, below the surfaces of the contained liquid.

2. The combination, witha steam boiler of a type which is subject torolling orpitching movements in service, of a water level markercomprising two reservoirs, each adapted to contain a portion of aleveling liquid said reservoirs being so proportioned relatively to anindicator and located on opposite sides of the boiler in position tomaintain a relatively large surface of such liquid at a levelcorresponding with the level of apredetermined critical point within theboiler, an indicator adapted to inclose another portion of such liquidand maintain a relatively small surface area thereof, at the same level,a conduit connecting said reservoirs and indicator, below the surfacesof the contained liquid, and a conduit connecting said reservoirs andindicator, above the surfaces of the contained liquids.

3. The combination, with a steam boiler of a type which is subject torolling or pitching movements in service, of a water level markercomprising two reservoirs, each adapted to contain a portion of aleveling liquid, said reservoirs being of materially greater capacitythan that of the indicator hereinafter specified, and being so propertioned relatively to said indicator and locatcd on opposite sides of theboiler in such position as to maintain a relatively large surface ot theleveling liquid. at a level corresponding with the level of apredetermined critical point within the boiler, an indicator adapted toinclose another portion of such liquid, and maintain a relatively smallsurface area thereof at the same level, a reservoir conduit extendingdownwardly below the boiler, from each reservoir, and a slip plementaryconduit connected therewith and with the indicator for the purpose ofestablishing and maintaining leveling liquid communication between saidreservoirs and indicator.

\VILLIAM Di l. LTON.

Vitnesses E. I. ouanesm WILL. \V. I'IAMBLY.

If, is hgreby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,183,438, grantedMay 16, 193 upon the applimnion c-f William Dalton. of Srhonqctady, NewYork, for an improvv ment in "Automativ Lmvlfl-xter-Levul Uarkcrs, anerror apfma-rs in the prhtcd qwificatibu requiring von-e tiunns follows:Page 2, transpose lines 119 and 120 to follow line 115; and thatt-hesaid Letters Patent should be read with thi corlimit-inn LL-cram thatthe same may conform u: the record of the case in the Patani.

Qfficc.

[ Signed and sealed this 25th do; of Juhgl. D., 1916.

[SEAL] F. W. H. CLAY,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 0!. 73-5-1.

Qurrection in Leiters Patent No. i- ,.83,438!

